Pigtail fishhook

ABSTRACT

The present invention includes an inventive pigtail fastener and the associated method of attaching line thereto. The pigtail fastener is comprised of an elongated shaft at the proximal end of the device and a tightly coiled portion of the shaft at the distal end of the device. The pigtail fastener is constructed and arranged in such a manner so as to provide an amount of tension sufficient to pinch and thereby secure a quantity of line between the coiled portion and the shaft. The tension being provided as a result of the narrow confines of the space between the shaft and the coiled portion or alternatively as a result of the coiled portion being biased against a portion of the shaft.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] Not Applicable

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

[0002] Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] This invention relates to a method and apparatus for attachingline to a unique fastener device. The inventive fastener has a uniqueline attachment portion which is constructed by shaping the end or endsof a shaft of metal or other material into a coiled or pigtailconfiguration. The pigtailed or coiled end-portion(s) may be providedwith a springing action which would allow the coiled portion to bebiased toward the shaft thereby frictionally engaging any line which hasbeen attached to the fastener using the unique line attachment methodswhich will be described in detail below.

[0004] Previous line fastener devices typically required the user tohave somewhat fine motor skills and manual dexterity in order to quicklyand properly thread and knot the line to the fastener. Furthermore, inaddition to requiring skill and dexterity, in order to properly threadand tie a line to prior fastener types, the user of the hook must useboth hands to properly complete the tying procedure. In addition, thenature and function of most fastener devices require that any knotformed between the fastener and the line be permanent, thusnecessitating a cutting of the line in order to subsequently remove thefastener therefrom. Besides the damage associated with cutting the line,these fastener devices may otherwise place undesirable wear and tear online as a consequence of their use. Finally, many fasteners are knownwhich may allow line to slip or loosen which may be undesirable as wellas dangerous.

[0005] The present pigtail fastener overcomes all of the well knownshortcomings described above. The present pigtail fastener is designedto allow a user to quickly and easily tie a line to the fastener in amanner which results in a secure, non-slip line attachment which mayjust as quickly and easily be untied with minimal damage to the line.

[0006] The art described in this section is not intended to constitutean admission that any patent, publication or other information referredto herein is “prior art” with respect to this invention, unlessspecifically designated as such. In addition, this section should not beconstrued to mean that a search has been made or that no other pertinentinformation as defined in 37 C.F.R. §1.56(a) exists.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The invention provides for a shaft, particularly a shaft of ametal implement such as a fishhook, tent stake, carabineer or otherdevice which one may desire to have a line attached to. The shaft has anend which is shaped into a pigtail configuration. The unique pigtailfastener will typically include a tightly coiled end portion of theimplement shaft which is configured so that at least one point from thecoiled portion contacts or is immediately adjacent to the shaft.

[0008] The attachment device may allow for a space between the coiledportion and the shaft or the coiled portion and shaft may be pressedtogether as a result of the tension provided by the coiled portion.Where a space is provided for, the space may be uniformly narrow or mayinclude a more constricted portion. The space provided must besufficiently narrow so that when line is drawn into the space asdescribed herein, the various loops of line will be tightened againstone another as a result of the close proximity of the coiled portion andthe shaft. In this later embodiment the coiled portion and the shaft mayexhibit some springing characteristics but will preferably be fairlyrigid relative to one another.

[0009] The attachment device is constructed so that the coiled portionexhibits a sufficient amount of tension toward the shaft so that whenline is drawn between the coiled portion and the shaft the line will bepinched and securely held as a result of the tension provided. Thepresent pigtail fastener allows the user to secure line to theattachment device without the need to form a permanent knot with theline. An example of an appropriate material from which to construct thepigtail fastener is spring steel.

[0010] In the various alternative embodiments of the pigtail fastener,the fastener may be further configured to include a lip or line guide tofurther assist a user in attaching a line to the fastener. In such anembodiment at least a section of the coiled portion is spaced slightlyoutward from the shaft, thereby providing an initial enlarged openingbetween the coiled portion and the shaft wherein the line will morereadily be received into. The opening which receives the line thennarrows to pinch the line in between the coiled portion and the shaft.The coiled portion may also be configured to include a line securementarea which is which functions to lock line into a predeterminedposition.

[0011] In all of the embodiments of the present pigtail fastener, a lineattachment device is provided for which allows a user to quickly affix aline to the fastener without the need to tie a permanent knot with theline. The pigtail fastener and the associated methods for affixing aline thereto also provide the user with the ability to secure a line tothe attachment device with only limited manual dexterity and skill.

[0012] The present pigtail fastener is designed to facilitate a uniquelyuser friendly, highly effective method of affixing a line thereto simplyby winding a length of line around the implement shaft and then pullingthe wound line into the coiled portion in the manners described below.

[0013] The present attachment device may be utilized with other devicesbesides those mentioned above. For example, in the embodiment whereinthe pigtail fastener is applied to a fishhook, other fishing relateddevices such as lures, weights, floats, etc, may be constructed toinclude the present attachment device. As a result, one or more devicescould be attached to a given length of fishing line. On a larger scale,tent stakes, which may include pigtail fastener ends, could be securedto one end of a line while the other end is secured to a pigtailfastener or other device located on the tent surface. The pigtailfastener may be affixed to the ends of securement straps, ropes or cordsto provide a strap which may be readily adjusted in length by securingan end pigtail fastener along the length of the strap. Many otherdevices may be incorporated or used in combination with the presentpigtail fastener. Such devices will be apparent to one of ordinary skillin the art and are included within the scope of the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] A detailed description of the invention is hereafter describedwith specific reference being made to the drawings in which:

[0015]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fishhook embodiment of thepresent pigtail fastener;

[0016]FIG. 2 is a close up view of a preferred embodiment of the pigtailfastener;

[0017] FIGS. 3-7 show the various steps of a first inventive method forsecuring a line to the pigtail fastener shown in FIG. 2;

[0018]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of thepigtail fastener and the line secured at the apex of the pigtailfastener;

[0019]FIG. 9 is a side view of the pigtail fastener shown in FIG. 8showing the line in cross section;

[0020]FIG. 10 is a side view of an embodiment of the pigtail fastenerwherein the coils of the coiled portion are spaced apart a predetermineddistance and the coiled portion includes an outwardly raised coil lip toassist in receiving line into the coiled portion;

[0021]FIG. 11 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the pigtailfastener having a line securement area at the apex of the coiledportion;

[0022]FIG. 12 is a top down view of the embodiment of the pigtailfastener shown in FIG. 11;

[0023] FIGS. 13-16 show in a rear perspective, the various steps of asecond inventive method for securing a line to an embodiment of thepigtail fastener having a raised coil lip to assist in receiving lineinto the coiled portion;

[0024] FIGS. 17-20 show in a front perspective, the various steps of theline securing method shown in FIGS. 13-16;

[0025]FIG. 21 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the pigtailfastener which includes two coiled portions;

[0026]FIG. 22 shows the embodiment of the pigtail fastener shown in FIG.22 with separate line ends secured to each coiled portion;

[0027]FIG. 23 shows a side view of an embodiment of the pigtail fastenerwherein the shaft is bent or molded to include line diameter guidesalong a length of the shaft;

[0028]FIG. 24 shows a perspective view an embodiment of the pigtailfastener wherein the shaft has a flattened region, the flattened regionincluding line diameter guides incorporated;

[0029]FIG. 25 shows a side view of an embodiment of the pigtail fastenerwherein the coiled portion has a narrowed end region which as a reduceddiameter relative to the remaining region of the coiled portion;

[0030]FIG. 26 shows a perspective view of the embodiment of thepigtailed fastener shown in FIG. 25;

[0031]FIG. 27 shows a top down view of an embodiment of the pigtailfastener wherein part of the coiled portion is shaped to form a linesecurement area at the apex of the coiled portion;

[0032]FIG. 28 shows an embodiment of the present invention wherein acord length may be adjusted with pigtail fasteners located at each endof the cord, the pigtail fasteners being equipped with hooks havingblunted ends;

[0033]FIG. 29 shows a close up view of an end of the cord and arespective pigtail fastener shown in FIG. 28; and

[0034]FIG. 30 shows a close up view of a clip used in conjunction withthe embodiment shown in FIG. 28 wherein the clip may retain excess cordwhich may result from the length of the cord being shortened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0035] The inventive aspect of the present pigtail fastener focuses upona unique coiled region located at the distal end of an elongate shaftwhich is constructed to pinch and secure a line therein. As shown in thevarious figures, the pigtail fastener is preferably a coiled shaftportion of a metal implement. However, it should be noted that animplement could be retrofitted to include a pigtail fastener. Thepigtail fastener is preferably constructed from a metal such as springsteel which has been tightly coiled and is immediately proximate to theshaft.

[0036]FIG. 1 shows the present pigtail fastener as incorporated into afishhook embodiment. The fishhook 10 has a hook or barbed portion 12, ashaft 14 and a pigtail fastener 20. As better seen in FIG. 2 thepreferred embodiment of the pigtail fastener 20 includes a shaft 14 thathas been configured into a coil 22. The terms coil or coiled portionherein defines an extension of the shaft that has been shaped or moldedor otherwise formed into an arc of at least 450 degrees. Preferably, thecoil defines an arc which is 540 degrees or more. The arc which definesthe coil may also be described as being roughly 1½ turns or loops ofmaterial extending from shaft 14. A coil which is within the parametersdescribed provides a biasing force throughout the length of the arcdefined and ensures that the apex 28 of the fastener has sufficienttension force to biasedly trap the line therein.

[0037] A first method for attaching a line to the pigtail fastener maybe broken up into a series of steps as shown in FIGS. 3-7. FIG. 3 showsthe initial step of winding a length of line 30 around the shaft 14 toform a plurality of loops 32 thereabout. FIG. 4 shows the second stepwhich includes crossing the first end of the line 34 (the end of theline which may be secured to a fishing pole or other device) and thesecond end of the line 36 (the free end of the line) across each otherrelative to the loops 32 upon the shaft 14. This step may beaccomplished by simply flipping the orientation of the fishhook 180degrees relative to the initial placement of the first end of the line34 and the second end of the line 36. Alternatively, if the fishhook isheld in place by the user, the second end of the line 36 may be drawntoward the barb 12 and held against the fishhook by the user's thumb orfinger(s) leaving the first end of the line 34 free to be drawn acrossthe loops 32.

[0038] The third step of the line attachment method is shown in FIG. 5and includes pulling the first end of the line 34 along the shaft 14toward the pigtail fastener 20. A sufficient amount of tension must beplaced upon the second end of the line 36 in order to prevent the line30 from simply unwinding from the shaft 14 as the first end of the line34 is pulled.

[0039]FIG. 6 shows the continued pulling of the first end of the line 34toward the pigtail fastener 20. FIG. 6 also illustrates the tendency ofthe loops 32 to begin to entangle or bunch-up as the first end of theline 34 is pulled.

[0040] In FIG. 7, it can be seen that loops 32 have become boundtogether as a result of crossing and pulling both ends of the line, aswell as a result of the tension provided by coil 22 pushing against theline and shaft 14. As a result of this tension or pinching action, andin combination with the constriction of loops 32, the line 30 begins toform a somewhat entangled mass 38 that is secured within coil 22 orbetween coil 22 and shaft 14.

[0041] In FIG. 8 the line is pulled taut in a direction toward coil 22(away from shaft 14) and the line is continuously held tight by thepigtail fastener 20. The pinching action between the coil 22 and theshaft 14 secures allows the line 32 to be held securely within thepigtail fastener 20. Continued pulling upon the line 30 away from theshaft 14 will cause the entangled mass 38 to advance toward the apex 28of the pigtail fastener 20 and to further tighten itself within the coil22.

[0042] It should be noted that because of the unique shape andconstruction of the present invention, in all embodiments of the pigtailfastener, line may be pinched within the coil itself or between theshaft and that part of the coil immediately adjacent to the shaft. Whereit is stated that the line is located or pinched between the coil andshaft it should be understood that the line may just as easily be helddirectly within the confines of the coil.

[0043]FIG. 9 further shows a cross-sectional view of the entangled mass38 and helps to illustrate the tightening effect upon the various loops32 resulting from continued pulling on the line.

[0044] As previously stated, the pigtail fastener may be embodied inseveral different forms incorporating a wide range of features. FIG. 10shows an embodiment of the pigtail fastener which includes a lip portion24 of coil 22 which is bent outward and protrudes away from the shaft14. Lip portion 24 functions as a line guide which allows the coil 22 toreadily catch and receive line which the user may desire to have pinchedwithin the coil 22 but not necessarily against the shaft 14. As seen anddescribed above, the method of attaching the line to the fastener shownin FIGS. 13-20, may employ a pigtail fastener having a lip portion suchas is shown, or may employ alternative embodiments of the pigtailfastener such as the embodiment shown in FIG. 2.

[0045] It should also be noted that in an alternative embodiment theentire coil, as opposed to a lip portion alone, may be configured to beinitially spaced away from the shaft to more readily catch and receiveline between the coil and shaft.

[0046] The pigtail fastener shown in FIG. 10 also includes a coil 22which is spaced away from the shaft 14 at apex 28 to define a gap 26.The gap 26 has a width which may be determined based on the diameter ofline which is to be used with the pigtail fastener. An entangled mass ofrelatively large diameter line, such as described in the line tyingmethods above may require a larger gap 26 to ensure that the line willbe pinched and held within the coil 22 without damaging the line ordistorting coil 22. In a preferred embodiment where the pigtail fasteneris constructed from spring steel, the coil 22 is intended to holdentangled mass of line 38 by providing a biasing force toward shaft 14.An undesirably large diameter line inserted into the pigtail fastener asdescribed herein could distort and damage coil 22. By providing a gap 26of appropriate width such potential damage and wear to the line and coilis avoided.

[0047] Turning now to FIGS. 13-20, a second inventive tying method isshown which is best utilized with a pigtail fastener having a lipportion as described above. FIGS. 13-16 show the various steps of thetying method from a rear perspective view of the pigtail fastener, whileFIGS. 17-20 show the corresponding steps in a front perspective view ofthe pigtail fastener.

[0048] Unlike the previously discussed tying method shown in FIGS. 3-7,the present method does require that the line be threaded through theeyelet 42 of the coil 22. However, because the present tying method ishighly suitable for use with relatively large embodiments of the pigtailfastener such as could be used with tent stakes, boating cleats,carabineers, etc, the eyelet 42 will typically be of such size that thespeed and ease of tying the line to the fastener will not be reduced.

[0049] As seen in FIGS. 13 and 17 the first step in tying a line 30 tothe pigtail fastener 20 is to insert or thread the line 30 through theeyelet 42 of the coil 22. Preferably the first end of the line 34 isinserted into the eyelet 42 from the shaft-side of the pigtail fastenerto the coil side as shown.

[0050]FIGS. 14 and 18 show the second step in the present tying method.The first end of the line 34 is pulled through the eyelet 42 to providea length of line sufficient to lie against a portion of the shaft 14below the coil 22. The user may secure the first end of the line 34against the shaft 14 by any means. For example: if the user is holdingthe pigtail fastener by the shaft, the user could simply slide the firstend of the line between his or her finger or thumb and press the lineagainst the shaft. Once the first end of the line 34 is laid against theshaft 14, the second end of the line 36 is wound about the shaft 14 andthe first end of the line 34 one or more times, preferably two or threetimes, as best seen in FIGS. 15 and 19.

[0051]FIGS. 16 and 20 show the final step in the present tying method.After winding the second end of the line 36 about the shaft 14 and thefirst end of the line 34 as shown, the second end of the line 36 isdrawn over the wound loops of line 44 and upward toward the coil 22. Thesecond end of the line 36 is inserted into the coil 22 by being pulledbetween the lip portion 24 and the coil 22. The second end of the line36 is drawn to its final position at the apex 28 of the coil 22.

[0052] The line 30 is easily removed from the coil 22 by pulling thesecond end of the line 36 downward from the lip portion 24. Once thesecond end of the line 36 is no longer retained by the coil 22 the lineis simply unwound.

[0053] The tying method shown in FIGS. 13-20 and described above isespecially appropriate when used with larger embodiments of the pigtailfastener which would utilize line such as relatively thick rope or cord.

[0054] The pigtail fastener and tying methods described above are animprovement over prior art fastener devices and tying methods. Theembodiment disclosed provides a device which can be fastened to a linewith relative ease requiring little manual dexterity or coordinationfrom the user while still providing a strong secure connection betweenthe fastener and line. In addition, the method of tying a line to thepresent pigtail fastener allows a user to tie a line to the fastener injust a few seconds regardless of external conditions.

[0055] In a further embodiment of the pigtail fastener as shown in FIGS.11 and 12, a line securement area 40 is notched or otherwise formed at apredetermined point within the coil 22. The line securement areaprovides a widened area which helps to secure the line 30 (seen only inFIG. 11). In the embodiment shown, the line securement area 40corresponds with the apex 28 to ensure that the line 22 is guided in thedirection opposite to the orientation of the shaft 14. The linesecurement area 40 is sized appropriately to retain a predetermineddiameter of line therein. The location of the line securement area 40 atthe apex 28 also helps secure the line within the coil 22 by reventingthe line 22 from slipping in either direction away from the linesecurement area 40 even when force is not applied to the line asdescribed in the tying method described above. In FIG. 27, analternative embodiment is shown where line securment area 40 is formedby shaping or molding coil 22 to a desired shape and diameter, ratherthan forming the line securment area by notching the coil as previouslyshown in FIGS. 11 and 12. An advantage of the embodiment shown in FIG.27 is that possible damage to the line resulting from friction andcompression is further minimized as a result of the relatively smoothsurface and contour of the shaped line securement area 40.

[0056] In the preferred embodiment where the coil is constructed fromspring steel, the line may be slid into the line securement area bypulling the line upward toward the apex to momentarily distort thediameter of the line securement area so it may flexibly receive theline. The line may be removed from the line securement area by pullingon the line in a direction away from the line securement area withsufficient force to overcome the biasing force of the coil, therebysliding the line out of the line securement area without damage toeither the line or to the coil.

[0057]FIG. 21 shows an embodiment of the pigtail fastener wherein twocoiled portions 46, 48 have been joined along a common shaft 50. Such anembodiment can be used to join multiple lines together. The embodimentshown can be used to connect an initial line 52 to a secondary line 54as best shown by FIG. 22. The initial line 52 may be tied to the coiledportion 46. The secondary line 54 is tied to the coiled portion 48. Therespective coiled portions and lines may be tied utilizing any tyingmethod known but preferably with the methods described herein.

[0058] It should be understood by one of ordinary skill in the art thata multiple coiled portion embodiment of the pigtail fastener is notlimited to only joining two coiled portions as described and shownherein. It may be desirable to attach numerous implements or lines to acommon location. As such it is possible to join several coiled portionstogether around a common axial point or around a support ring or otherdevice (not shown) either fixedly or moveably to provide for such commonjoining.

[0059]FIGS. 23 and 24 show in detail a line sizing feature which couldbe incorporated into nearly any embodiment of the present pigtailfastener. The line sizing feature includes one or more sizing areas 56which correspond to the diameter of line which may or may not beproperly used with the coiled portion (not shown) as described above. InFIG. 23 the sizing areas 56 are the result of bending the shaft 14 tothe diameter desired. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 24 the shaft 14has a flattened area 58 which includes the sizing areas 56. The sizingareas 56 may be cut, etched or otherwise placed into the flattened area58. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 24 the sizing areas 56, may also beutilized as line cutters or trimmers by simply applying downwardpressure against a line as it rests against the sizing area 56.

[0060] In certain applications of the present invention. It may bedesirable to use relatively fine or small diameter line with the pigtailfastener. An example of such an application may include the fishhookembodiment such as shown in FIG. 1. In such an application, coil 22 mayhave insufficient flexibility to adequately secure the reduced diameterline to the pigtail fastener 10 because the coil may be fairly rigid asa consequence of having a uniform and relatively large diameter whencompared to the line. In order to provide the coil with adequateflexibility and springiness the coil may be equipped with an end regionwhich has been flattened or reduced in diameter as illustrated in theembodiment shown in FIGS. 25-26.

[0061] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 25 and 26 coil 22 ischaracterized has having a reduced diameter region and an initialregion. Reduced diameter region 60 is characterized as being moreflexible and more springy relative to initial region 62. As a result ofthese characteristics, the reduced diameter region will be more prone topush against initial region 62 than a coil having a larger uniformdiameter. In the preferred embodiment shown reduced diameter region 60defines an arc of at least 400 degrees however, in alternativeembodiments this value may vary greatly depending on the diameter of theline, the physical characteristics of line being used, the method ofattaching the line to the fastener, etc. Alternatively, it may bepossible to retain reduced diameter line in an embodiment of the pigtailfastener which has a coil or region of the coil, whether reduced indiameter or not, manufactured from a material which is more flexible andspringy than either the shaft or the initial region.

[0062] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, an adjustablelength securement strap, indicated generally at 70, is formed bycombining a line with two pigtailed fasteners as shown in FIGS. 28 and29. The line is preferably a shock or bungee cord 72 having apredetermined length, and is equipped with two pigtail fasteners 74, 76.The length of the securement strap may be infinitely adjusted byattaching the pigtail fasteners at desired points along the length ofthe bungee cord. In the embodiment shown, the bungee cord 72 is attachedto the pigtail fasteners 74, 76 utilizing the method of attachment shownin FIGS. 13-20 and described above. However any method of attachment maybe used. Excess cord 78 may be allowed to hang freely or is morepreferably retained substantially parallel to bungee cord 72 by one ormore retaining clips such as clip 80 shown in FIGS. 28 and 30.

[0063] As seen in FIGS. 28 and 29 the pigtail fasteners used in thesecurement strap embodiment preferably are equipped with a blunted hook82 at the end of shaft 14. By providing the pigtail fasteners 74, 76with blunted hooks 82 the securement strap may be hooked to a variety ofsurfaces without scratching or otherwise damaging such surfaces. Inorder to further ensure that the blunted hooks do not scratch or harmsurfaces to which they are hooked, each blunted hook 82 may be equippedwith a protective cap 84. Protective cap 84 may be constructed out ofany suitable material such as plastic, rubber, etc.

[0064] It should be understood that in the embodiment shown in FIGS.28-30 any type of line, pigtail fasteners and clips can be utilized.

[0065] This completes the description of the preferred and alternateembodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art may recognizeother equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein whichequivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attachedhereto.

[0066] While this invention may be embodied in many different forms,there are shown in the drawings and described in detail herein specificpreferred embodiments of the invention. The present disclosure is anexemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intendedto limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pigtail fastener comprising a shaft having aproximal end and a distal end, the distal end including a coiled portionwhich extends from and is adjacent to said shaft, said coiled portiondefining an arc of about 540 degrees or more.
 2. The pigtail fastener ofclaim 1 wherein the pigtail fastener is composed of spring steel.
 3. Thepigtail fastener of claim 1 wherein the coiled portion is constructedand arranged to provide a biasing force against the shaft.
 4. Thepigtail fastener of claim 1 further comprising a line which is biaslysecured within the coil.
 5. The pigtail fastener of claim 4 wherein thecoiled portion has a line receiving lip portion which protrudes awayfrom the shaft, the lip portion constructed and arranged to receive aportion of the line therein.
 6. The pigtail fastener of claim 1 furthercomprising a line which is looped around said shaft and held between theshaft and the coiled portion.
 7. The pigtail fastener of claim 6 whereinthe coiled portion and the shaft are separated by a gap, said line beingbiasedly trapped in said gap.
 8. The pigtail fastener of claim 1 whereinthe shaft has a predetermined diameter, a region of the coiled portionhaving a diameter less than the predetermined diameter of the shaft. 9.The pigtail fastener of claim 1 wherein the coiled portion ischaracterized as having an initial diameter region and a reduceddiameter region, the reduced diameter region having a diameter less thanthe initial diameter region, the reduced diameter region defining about400 degrees of the arc of about 540 degrees or more which are furthestaway from the shaft.
 10. The pigtail fastener of claim 1 wherein aregion of the coiled portion is characterized as being flat.
 11. Apigtail fastener comprising a shaft having a proximal end and a distalend, the distal end including a coiled portion which is adjacent to saidshaft, said coiled portion defining an arc not less than about 450degrees.
 12. An implement for attaching a line thereto comprising: apigtail fastener having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximalend including a shaft, the distal end including a pigtail fastener, saidpigtail fastener including a coiled portion which is adjacent to saidshaft, said coiled portion defining an arc of about 540 degrees or more,the coiled portion providing a biasing force of sufficient strength toreceive and removably retain a predetermined amount of line therein. 13.A method for attaching line to a pigtail fastener comprising thefollowing steps: (a) providing a pigtail fastener characterized byhaving a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining ashaft, the distal end including a coiled portion which defines an arc ofabout 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion being immediately adjacentto said shaft; (b) providing a length of line having a free end and asecured end; (c) winding the line about the shaft so that the securedend is positioned toward said proximal end of said pigtail fastener andthe free end is positioned toward said distal end of said pigtailfastener, thereby producing a plurality of wound loops about the shaft;(d) crossing said free end of the line and said secured end of the linein opposing directions across the wound loops, relative to the fishhook;(e) pulling the secured end of the line toward the distal end of thefishhook while providing tension upon the free end of the line so as toprevent unwinding of the line from said shaft; and (f) pulling thesecured end of the line and the wound loops between the shaft and thecoiled portion thereby securing the wound loops therebetween.
 14. Amethod for attaching line to a pigtail fastener comprising the followingsteps: (a) providing a pigtail fastener characterized by having aproximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a shaft, thedistal end including a coiled portion of the shaft which defines an arcof about 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion having an eyelet whichpasses therethrough, the coiled portion being adjacent to said shaft,the coiled portion further having a line receiving lip portion whichprotrudes away from the shaft, the lip portion constructed and arrangedto receive a portion of the line therein; (b) providing a length of linehaving a free end and a secured end; (c) threading the free end of theline through the eyelet; (d) wrapping the free end of the line againstthe shaft; (e) winding the secured end of the line around the shaft andfree end of the line one or more times; and (f) pulling the secured endof the line back toward the coiled portion and inserting the secured endof the line in between the coiled portion and the line receiving lipportion thereby securing the secured end of the line.
 15. A method forattaching line comprising the following steps: (a) providing animplement having a pigtail fastener, the pigtail fastener having aproximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a shaft, theshaft having a predetermined length and being connected to the device,the distal end including a coiled portion of the shaft which defines anarc of about 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion being adjacent tothe shaft; (b) providing a length of line having a free end and asecured end; (c) securing the line to the pigtail fastener so that thesecured end is received and removably retained within the coiled portionand the free end is substantially entangled with the shaft and thecoiled portion, the line being removable from the pigtail fastenerintact.
 16. The method of attaching line of claim 15 wherein theimplement is a fishhook.
 17. A fishhook comprising a proximal end and adistal end, the proximal end defining a hook region, the hook regionincluding a distally extending shaft, the distal end defining a pigtailfastener, the pigtail fastener including a coiled portion extending fromthe shaft, the coiled portion being adjacent to the shaft, said coiledportion defining an arc of about 540 degrees or more.
 18. The fishhookof claim 17 wherein the coiled portion is constructed and arranged toprovide a biasing force against the shaft.
 19. The fishhook of claim 18further comprising a line which is looped around said shaft and heldbetween the shaft and the coiled portion.
 20. The fishhook of claim 19wherein the coiled portion and the shaft are separated by a gap, saidline being biasedly trapped in said gap.
 21. The fishhook of claim 17wherein the pigtail fastener is composed of spring steel.
 22. Thefishhook of claim 17 wherein the coiled portion has a line receiving lipportion which protrudes away from the shaft, the lip portion constructedand arranged to receive a portion of a line therein.
 23. A pigtailfastener comprising a rod having a proximal end and a distal end, thedistal end including a coiled portion which extends from and is adjacentto the rod, the coiled portion being defined by an arc of about 540degrees or more, the coiled portion having an initial diameter regionand a reduced diameter region, the reduced diameter region extendingfrom the initial diameter region, the reduced diameter region definingabout 400 degrees of the arc of about 540 degrees or more, the initialdiameter region having a predetermined diameter, the reduced diameterregion having a diameter less than that of the diameter of the initialdiameter region.
 24. The pigtail fastener of claim 23 wherein thereduced diameter region is characterized as being flattened relative tothe initial region.
 25. A universally adjustable securement strapcomprising a flexible bungee cord and at least one pigtail fastenerattached thereto, each pigtail fastener characterized as having aproximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a hook region,the hook region including a distally extending shaft, the distal endincluding a coiled portion of the shaft which defines an arc of about540 degrees or more.
 26. A method of forming a universally adjustablesecurment strap comprising the teps of: (a) providing at least onepigtail fastener, the at least one pigtail fastener characterized ashaving a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end defining a hookregion, the hook region including a distally extending shaft, the distalend including a coiled portion of the shaft which defines an arc ofabout 540 degrees or more, the coiled portion having an eyelet whichpasses therethrough, the coiled portion being adjacent to said shaft,the coiled portion further having a line receiving lip portion whichprotrudes away from the shaft, the lip portion constructed and arrangedto receive a portion of the line therein; (b) providing a line, the linehaving a predetermined length, the line further characterized as havinga first end and a second end; and (c) attaching the at least on pigtailfastener to any point along the length of the line with the process ofthreading a first end of the line through the eyelet, holding the firstend of the line against the shaft, winding a second end of the linearound the shaft and the first end of the line one or more times, andpulling the second end of the line back toward the coiled portion andinserting the second end of the line in between the coiled portion andthe line receiving lip portion thereby securing the second end of theline.
 27. The method of making a universally adjustable securement strapof claim 26 further comprising the step of: attaching a second pigtailfastener at any point along the length of the line not occupied by theat least one pigtail fastener in the same manner as the at least onepigtail fastener.
 28. The method of making a universally adjustablesecurement strap of claim 27 further comprising the step of: securingthe respective first ends of the line to the line located between the atleast one pigtail fastener and the second pigtail fastener utilizing oneor more line retaining devices.
 29. The method of universally making asecurement strap of claim 26 wherein the line is characterized as beinga flexible and stretchable cord.
 30. The method of universally making asecurement strap of claim 26 wherein the hook regions of each pigtailfastener have blunted ends.